R.I.P Chuck Brown (August 22, 1936 – May 16, 2012)

The Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, has left us but not before our own Tyler Mallory (www.tylermallory.com) was able to document this amazing shot. Go in peace Chuck and say hi to Adam from weetu.

Benchmade in North Carolina

Grab your latest Crate & Barrel catalog. I was happy to get an assignment from Crate & Barrel to go to their furniture production facilities in Hickory, North Carolina and spend a few days exploring how furniture gets made by hand. Let me tell you, making a couch by hand is not easy! Have a look on page 14.

Tyler

ICFF BIG APPLE THROWDOWN

Well it all started something like this, "Hey Mallory, it's Carly. I'm challenging you to a photo throwdown at ICFF. You in?" And, indeed he was...

This weekend weetu's Carly Cannell and Tyler Mallory will go head-to-head in a photo contest covering ICFF in New York. Jorge laid down the challenges and both contestants accepted the assignments. Images will be posted on the weetu blog and weetu facebook next week so viewers can choose who will take home the glory– umm, bragging rights.

Here is the full list of challenges and stay tuned for an update early next week:

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1) Give me shiny, shiny objects. (Objet d'art Category)

2) The most interesting use of plywood. (General Product Category)

3) Now that's a designer! (People Category – Voted Most Über-Design-Person)

4) There is no way I'm sitting on that naked. (Seating Category)

5) I want this more than anything, ever! (Best in Show category)

6) Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. (Coolest Lighting Category)

7) Just one generation away from walking on its own. (Anthropomorphic Category)

8) Oh those crafty Europeans. (Best European Design Category)

9) USA, USA, USA! (Best American Design Category)

Rules: This is a general interpretation project as it relates to categories. Composition matters but content is important too. So, make it pretty but keep the context. We'll let the people of facebook decide which image set best exemplifies the statement/category.

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guerrillas in the mist, take 2

Yep, it just wouldn't be a Guerrilla Truck show without everyone soaking in the rain. This year was an even bigger turnout than last year, despite the weather.

Our very own Tyler Mallory generously donated his mad photo skillz for DIFFA's truck. His photo exhibition was all about portraits of the people who make a difference at the many Chicago organizations working to provide services for those living with HIV and AIDS. Many of them are HIV positive themselves. For them, the path to finding their right place has taken many different routes. Through initial feelings of anger, resignation, confusion and fear, they have all found in themselves a way to stand taller than their diagnosis and continue living.

Each image starts as a blank square to let the personality dominate, to remember that the human spirit is unbowed and that even after a positive diagnosis, there is much to discover about life and personal strength.

This photo was taken by Jamie Kelter. Thanks Jamie!

Random Compliments

Even the coldest winters give way to spring. We're not there yet, but I think the end is in sight. Now is the time to go out and see what the snow has been hiding. Out and about the other day, it was nice to stumble on a random compliment hiding in plain sight, where no one would be expected to find it.

I'm here for the weather

As we careen into the depths of winter, what better place to go than... The Beach! Forget going to fancy Florida, though. I've decided to stay right here in Chicago and explore the lakeshore for the winter. While the shore is a magnetic draw for people in the summer, the opposite is true in the winter. In a city this size, it's rare to find such utter solitude. And for good reason. Everything is locked in snow and ice and the wind seems to howl forever. Those same elements turn everything into a subtle, graphic simplicity. Boat docks are empty, baseball fields lose their diamond shape and well-traveled paths disappear. 

It does take an extra layer or two of clothes, but the parking's easy and you can leave the sunblock at home...

WEETU hearts strap-ons

You know what they say, (they being losers) you can’t win them all! WEETU entered a competition sponsored by Body Glove to come up with a sports holder for the new i-phone. Carly’s design skills plus Linda’s sewing capabilities,(taught to her when she was five), resulted in the genius creation of band-i – an adjustable multi-body location strap on i-phone holder. Weetu didn’t win the competition, but did walk away with an adorable picture with band-I, the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan (courtesy of tyler mallory)